Benitez's side beat champions Manchester United at Anfield yesterday to kick start their campaign, claimed the under-fire Spaniard.

The 2-0 victory - Liverpool's third successive league win over the men from Old Trafford - ended a run of four straight defeats, the Anfield club's worst run in 22 years.

The goals came from Fernando Torres, his ninth of the season, and substitute David Ngog in injury time.

But the key moment came on the Liverpool coach heading for the match, when Benitez finally decided to risk Torres, despite the Spain international having struggled all week with a groin injury that restricted him to two light training sessions.

It was a gamble that had it backfired, could have resulted in Torres being out for weeks and Liverpool's troubled season would have been further ruined.

But Benitez got it right and Liverpool's delirious fans raised the roof on Anfield after a cracking match.

Benitez said: "I talked with Fernando on the coach, and that was when I was really convinced that he could play.

"In the morning I had decided that he would be involved, but I needed convincing he could start rather than just be a substitute.

"Playing Fernando was a difficult decision. He was not training, the same as Steven Gerrard.

"But after talking with him we decided it was better to start the game with him.

"You could see he was not 100% fit, but sometimes 80% of Fernando can make a difference.

"We had to be very careful with him, that is why we took him off near the end.

"You have to take care of him. But we were waiting for that final pass and when it came we knew he would score."

This was only United's second league defeat of the campaign, and leaves Chelsea two points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

It also saw Nemanja Vidic sent off for the third game in succession against Liverpool, who themselves had Javier Mascherano also red-carded.

Benitez added: "We needed to win for our confidence, and it will be a big boost for the team because the win was against such a good team.

"The fans are elated, and all the players are in the same mood. You have to be positive in football, you have to be ready.

"Our players are good players. People talked before the game that we were not, but I know that is wrong.

"We have many players injured, that is the problem. When they are fit we can be a problem for anyone."